Apparatus for and method of softening the ears of box-toe stiffeners



Jame w, 1924.; 1,496,937

J. J. LYCETTE ET AL APPARATQS'FOR AND METHOD OF SOFTENING THE EARS OF BOX TOE STIFFENERS Filed Sept. 2. 1921 Patented June 10, 1924.

.OFFICE.

JOHN J. LYCETTE ERNEST NADREAU, 0F NASHUA, NEW'HAMPSHIRE.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SOFTENING THE EARS 0F BOX-TOE STIFFENERS.

' Application filed September2, 1921. Serial No. 497,868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN J. LYGETTE and ERNEST NADREAU, citizens of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for and Methods of Softening the Ears of Box-Toe Stifieners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes,

. and its particular purpose is for use in softening the ears of the box toe stiffener after the shoe upper and inner sole have been as,- sembled on the last, and after substantially the whole of the box toe stiffener has been softened by means of moisture or steam and has been tacked to the last at the point of the shoe and at the wings of the toe-cap stiffener, but before the shoe has been lasted for the welter. d

When the toe-cap stiffener has been thus tacked in position, ears are left sticking out on each side of the point and as they have now hardened, it is necessary to again soften them in order to make a smooth, satisfactory toe for lasting.

We are well aware that there are many types of moisteners wherein water, steam and vapor are used, but there are now a vast number of shoes made of what is known as painted leather, which is stained by steam or moisture.

Specifically our device is to apply vapor or steam to the projecting ears only of the toe-cap stiffener and incidentally to the adjoining part of the lining and to a certain extent to the adjoining part of the toecap which will be concealed in the finished shoe but without touching the leather forming the outside of the shoe.

Cur invention includes a pocketfor the front of the shoe, a moisture chamber or box for supplying moisture thereto, and a rest, preferably of a special form, for holding the unfinished shoe in the right position in the ocket. i

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side sectional elevation of our device with an assembled shoe on the last in position.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing location of a pinhole. r K

Fig. 8 shows another location of a pinhole whichmaybe'used. 7 I

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a shoe at the stage of the shoemaking process where our apparatus is useful.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation show,- ing a modification of our device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of another form of shoe rest.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of pocket.

In the drawings, A representsthe moisture containing box supported in any suitable manner as by legs 8 and having a top 5, bottom 6, front 7, back 4, and sides 9, and 9 not shown. This box may, however, be of almost an shape. It should be steam tight and shoul have no outlets except those to be described. E represents a steam inlet pipe from any suitable source of steam, preferably having an elbow, at 20 and extending down at 21 into and proximate the bottom 6 of box A. Preferably this inlet pipe is provided with a valve 61 outside box A;

F represents a drip pipe which passes down through the bottom 6 of box A, having its inlet 22 located above the lower end 21 of steam inlet pipe E and preferably having a control Valve 52 by which the amount of water and steam passing out through the bottom 23 of drip pipe F may be regulated if it becomes necessary.

The bottom of box A may be filled with water by condensation of steam from the pipe E, or may be filled otherwise to the water level W, which will always remain even with the top 22 of the drip pipe.

Extending out from the front of box A are brackets 41, 41, carrying a suitable rest 40 to partly support an unfinished shoe consisting of a vamp V, inner sole 1, lining C and toe-cap stiffener T. The vamp and lining are tacked on each side to the last by tacks 12, 12, and the wings 70 and 71 of the toe-cap and the wings ofthe toe-capstifi'ener T which are under them, are tacked to the last on each side by tacks 11, 11, while the front of the toe-capand toe-cap stiffenerare tacked to the tip of the last by tacks 10. which force outward the ears 30- and 31 of the toe-cap stiffener. This rest 40 is so positioned that the weight of the last would cause it to tip over backwards or to the right, as shown in Fig. 1,; exceptv for pocket B,

B represents a toe pocket which is steam proof and is located above rest a and extends in from the front of box A. It has an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall 24:, and through each of its side walls 59 near its upper inner side is a pinhole 26 which is the only outlet to permit the escape of vapor or steam from box A, except through the outlet F.

The front 57 of pocket B is open and large enough to admit the toe part of a shoe, while the inner wall 58 may be of any suitable shape.

As shownin Figs. 1 and 2, pinholes 26 will preferably extend through the side walls, but as shown in Fig. 3, a single pinhole 66 may be located in the back or inner wall 58.

Projecting down from top 24 of pocket B is a spacing pin 25 which is shown as a screw whereby the space through which the vapor can escape may be adjusted.

The unfinished shoe, upside down, with the last, is pushed into pocket B and rested on to 40. its tendency to tip out causes the soleto remain in contact with pin 25, leaving a space between the sole and top '24: through which vapor from the pinhole or pinholes can pass.

The operation of the device is that steam, entering through pipe E at S bubbles up at S through the water, and continues as wet steam or vapor at S until it passes into pocket B through the holes 26 or a hole 66, an d'then, being lighter than air, it travels along under the sloping top wall 24 and out at S In its passage it softens the ears 30 and 31 of the toe-cap stiffener T without reaching that part 01" the vamp which in the finished shoe will be on the top of the toe.

As shown in Fig. 53, we may use a pocket H in box A which has a sloping top wall Ql and pinholes 26, but which has no spacing pin and which has it bottom wall sloping down and out so that it any water should condense it would flow down and out and so that the air can circulate freely from outside up in the direction of the arrow, thereby helping to keep the part of the toe at all times dry.

Instead of a steam pipe, a moisture pipe K with a valve 53 may be used, and through this a spray of water or water mixed with air may be forced instead of steam for the purpose of filling and keeping filled box with moisture.

As shown by the dotted lines marked 49 in Fig. 1, if it becomes necessary with some classes of shoes, an asbestos pad can be placed on the bottom 56 of pocket B to protect the upper leather from heat therefrom.

Where the spacing pin is omitted, as shown in Fig. 5, the ears 30 and 31 themselves rest against the top of pocket and so keep the space for the vapor to pass through between the inner sole 1 and the top 2 The pocket may be integral with the box, as shown in Fig. 5,.or it may conveniently be made with flanges and 81 bolted to the front of box A by means of bolts82 and 83, as shown in Fig. 1.

The outlet F may drip on to the floor or into a pan, or may be connected with a return pipe to the steam boiler so thatsteam will be saved and the only steam which escapes will come through the pinholes such as26.

As it is very necessary that the unfinished shoe should be placed in the right position in the pocket in order that moisture may reach exactly the right parts and in order that the tip of the toe should not become burned, we prefer to provide a substantially automatic rest which will make it difficult, if not impossible, for an unskilled operator to place the shoe in the wrong position. We also prefer to so arrange this that there will be no part in contact with the shoe vamp or upper which will become hot and thus stain it.

We prefer to accomplish this by attaching parallel brackets 41 and 41, preferably by means of the bolts 83, which connect the lower flange 81 with box A, such brackets extending out and up to a point which will be behind the center of gravity of the shoe and last. here are series of holes 42, l2 passing through each bracket, and between any two of them, at a point nearer the box A than the center of gravity, we connect the opposite ends of a coil spring 40 in such manner that it will hang down and form aloop, as shown in Fig. 6. This should be adjusted in the right position and should be of the right strength so that when the operator is pushing the toe of the shoe into the pocket, a point on the instep will strike the looped rest and catch it so that if the toe is pushed too far in, when released by hand, the swinging rest 40 will carry it out away from the back 48 of the pocket. The loop of the rest 40 being made of coil wire, which permits the tree circulation of air, will not become hot.

As shown'in Fig. 7, however, instead of a spring, we may use a band at of cloth, tape or rope made of any material which is a non-conductor and which will remain cool.

As shown at 85 in Fig. 5, the bottom wall l lo the top wall close to which, but preferably out of contact with which the sole of the shoe is held.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stifi'eners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of a steam inlet which extends down into and proximate the bottom thereof, a drip pipe through said bottom having its inlet above the end of the steam inlet, a shoe rest outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last, and a toe pocket located above the said rest and extending into said box having an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall and a pinhole in each of its upper inner side walls to permit the only escape of vapor from said box except through said outlet, together with an adjustable spacing pin which projects'down from the top of said pocket.

2. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stiffeners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of means for filling said box with moisture, a shoe rest outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last, and a pocket located above said rest and extending into said box having an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall and a passage proximate its upper inner portion from inside of the box to permit the only escape of vapor therefrom except through said outlet, together with a spacing pin which projects down from the top of said pocket.

3. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stifi'eners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of means for filling said box with moisture, a shoe rest outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last upside down, and a pocket located above said rest and extending into said box having an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall and a passage proximate its upper inner portion from inside of the box to permit the only escape of vapor into said pocket.

e. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stifleners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of a steam inlet which extends down into and proximate the bottom thereof, a drip pipe through said bottom having its inlet above the end of the steam inlet, a shoe rest including a looped coil spring hung between two brackets outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last, and a toe pocket located above the said rest and extending into said box having an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall and a pinhole in each of its upper inner side walls to permit the only escape of vapor from said box except through said outlet, together with an adjustable spacing pin which projects down from the top of said pocket.

5. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stiffeners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of means for filling said box with moisture, a shoe rest including a looped coil spring hung between two brackets outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last, and a pocket located above said rest and extending into said box having an inwardly and downwardly sloping top wall and a passage proximate its upper inner por tion from inside of the box to permit the only escape of vapor therefrom except through said outlet, together with a spacing pin which projects down from the top of said pocket.

6. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stifieners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of means for filling said box with moisture, a shoe rest including a loop hung between two brackets outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last, and a pocket located above said rest and extending into said box having a sloping top wall and a passage proximate its lower end from inside of the box to permit the only escape of vapor therefrom except through said outlet, together with a spacing pin which proj ects down from the top of said pocket.

7. In an apparatus for softening the ears of box toe stiffeners, the combination with a moisture containing box, of means for filling said box with moisture, a shoe rest including a loop hung between two brackets outside the box adapted to partly support an unfinished shoe and last upside down, and a pocket located above said rest and extending into said box having a top wall sloping sharply upward and a passage proximateits lower end from inside of the box to permit the only escape of vapor therefrom into said pocket.

8. The process of softening the ears of box toe stifieners after the box toe has been tacked to the last which consists of bringing the ears with the last upside down and the heel above the toe up against the under side of a fiat surface which slopes sharply-up ward and introducing steam or water vapor 

